A Visual Guide to Home Hardening
Click on each element to learn how to make your home FireSafe
Miscellaneous Structures
- Create a 0–5-foot ember-resistant zone around large miscellaneous combustible structures - Upgrade miscellaneous structures by using construction materials that are noncombustible or ignition resistant - Remove combustible dilapidated structures or ones that are no longer in use
Driveways & Access Roads
- Relocate any vehicles, boats, or RVs at least 50 feet from your residence before egress when a wildfire is near - Ensure that access to your home complies with local fire codes
Roofs
- Replace wood shake or shingle roofs with a Class A fire-rated roof, using materials such as composition, metal, or tile - Inspect your roof and maintain it by removing debris and plugging gaps
Gutters
-Keep gutters clear of debris - Use a noncombustible gutter cover to prevent buildup of debris
Water Supply
Have multiple garden hoses long enough to reach all areas of your house
Windows
- Install dual or multi-paned windows with at least one pane of tempered glass - Install aluminum metal mesh window screens to openable windows to increase ember resistance and reduce radiant heat exposure
Address
Make sure your address is clearly visible from the road
Fences
- Replace attached combustible fencing or gates with a noncombustible option for the first five feet - Locate parallel combustible fences at least 10 feet away from your residence (20 feet if there are two fences side by side) - Relocate any combustibles nearby and remove vegetation grown on fences
Chimney
- Cover your chimney and stovepipe outlets with a noncombustible corrosion-resistant metal screen with openings no smaller than 3/8 inch and 1/2 inch in size. - Close the fireplace flue during fire season when the chimney is not being used.
Walls & Siding
- When it's time to replace your siding use compliant noncombustible, ignition-resistant siding or other materials approved by the Office of the State Fire Marshal - Caulk or plug gaps greater than 1/8-inch in siding and replace any damaged boards, including those with dry rot - Build or remodel your walls with ignition-resistant building materials like stucco, fiber cement walls siding, fire retardant-treated wood, or other approved materials
Sheds
-Create a 10-foot ember-resistant zone around all accessory buildings -Upgrade the accessory building with noncombustible and ignition-resistant materials - If possible, locate accessory buildings 30 feet from your home and avoid placing near neighboring residences or other combustibles
Vents
- Cover all vent openings with a 1/16-inch to 1/8-inch metal mesh - Consider replacing screened vents with ember and flame-resistant vents
Decks
- Remove debris accumulation such as leaves, pine needles, or flammable materials from underneath, on top of, or adjacent to your deck - Relocate small combustibles to at least five feet away and bring them inside or away from your home during high fire weather - Consider upgrading combustible deck boards with a noncombustible or ignition resistant option
Zone 0
- Remove small combustibles within the first five feet of the residence especially if located underneath windows or eaves and against combustible siding - Consider installing a hardscape material around the first five feet of your residence such as gravel, pavers, or cement - Relocate woodpiles at least 30 feet from residence
Skylight
- Cover opening to operable skylights with noncombustible metal mesh screen with openings in the screen not to exceed 1/8 inch - Consider upgrading openable skylights with multipaned glazing with one layer of tempered glass
Garage
- Install weather stripping to eliminate gaps greater than 1/8 inch around garage doors - Add a battery back-up to the garage door motor so that the garage can easily be operated if power is out
Eaves & Soffits
- Plug or caulk gaps greater than 1/8 inch in size with durable caulk - Remove or relocate small combustibles that are located underneath eaves
Dormer
- Consider replacing combustible siding found at roof-to-wall intersections on dormers with a noncombustible option - Periodically check and remove debris accumulation along vertical dormer roof walls
A Visual Guide to Home Hardening
Alisha
Created on September 3, 2025
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Transcript
A Visual Guide to Home Hardening
Click on each element to learn how to make your home FireSafe
Miscellaneous Structures
- Create a 0–5-foot ember-resistant zone around large miscellaneous combustible structures - Upgrade miscellaneous structures by using construction materials that are noncombustible or ignition resistant - Remove combustible dilapidated structures or ones that are no longer in use
Driveways & Access Roads
- Relocate any vehicles, boats, or RVs at least 50 feet from your residence before egress when a wildfire is near - Ensure that access to your home complies with local fire codes
Roofs
- Replace wood shake or shingle roofs with a Class A fire-rated roof, using materials such as composition, metal, or tile - Inspect your roof and maintain it by removing debris and plugging gaps
Gutters
-Keep gutters clear of debris - Use a noncombustible gutter cover to prevent buildup of debris
Water Supply
Have multiple garden hoses long enough to reach all areas of your house
Windows
- Install dual or multi-paned windows with at least one pane of tempered glass - Install aluminum metal mesh window screens to openable windows to increase ember resistance and reduce radiant heat exposure
Address
Make sure your address is clearly visible from the road
Fences
- Replace attached combustible fencing or gates with a noncombustible option for the first five feet - Locate parallel combustible fences at least 10 feet away from your residence (20 feet if there are two fences side by side) - Relocate any combustibles nearby and remove vegetation grown on fences
Chimney
- Cover your chimney and stovepipe outlets with a noncombustible corrosion-resistant metal screen with openings no smaller than 3/8 inch and 1/2 inch in size. - Close the fireplace flue during fire season when the chimney is not being used.
Walls & Siding
- When it's time to replace your siding use compliant noncombustible, ignition-resistant siding or other materials approved by the Office of the State Fire Marshal - Caulk or plug gaps greater than 1/8-inch in siding and replace any damaged boards, including those with dry rot - Build or remodel your walls with ignition-resistant building materials like stucco, fiber cement walls siding, fire retardant-treated wood, or other approved materials
Sheds
-Create a 10-foot ember-resistant zone around all accessory buildings -Upgrade the accessory building with noncombustible and ignition-resistant materials - If possible, locate accessory buildings 30 feet from your home and avoid placing near neighboring residences or other combustibles
Vents
- Cover all vent openings with a 1/16-inch to 1/8-inch metal mesh - Consider replacing screened vents with ember and flame-resistant vents
Decks
- Remove debris accumulation such as leaves, pine needles, or flammable materials from underneath, on top of, or adjacent to your deck - Relocate small combustibles to at least five feet away and bring them inside or away from your home during high fire weather - Consider upgrading combustible deck boards with a noncombustible or ignition resistant option
Zone 0
- Remove small combustibles within the first five feet of the residence especially if located underneath windows or eaves and against combustible siding - Consider installing a hardscape material around the first five feet of your residence such as gravel, pavers, or cement - Relocate woodpiles at least 30 feet from residence
Skylight
- Cover opening to operable skylights with noncombustible metal mesh screen with openings in the screen not to exceed 1/8 inch - Consider upgrading openable skylights with multipaned glazing with one layer of tempered glass
Garage
- Install weather stripping to eliminate gaps greater than 1/8 inch around garage doors - Add a battery back-up to the garage door motor so that the garage can easily be operated if power is out
Eaves & Soffits
- Plug or caulk gaps greater than 1/8 inch in size with durable caulk - Remove or relocate small combustibles that are located underneath eaves
Dormer
- Consider replacing combustible siding found at roof-to-wall intersections on dormers with a noncombustible option - Periodically check and remove debris accumulation along vertical dormer roof walls